The identity of Argentina's new coach is due to be revealed later this week – and improbably Diego Maradona's name is still in the frame.

Julio Grondona, president of the Argentine Football Association, discussed the potential candidates to succeed Alfio Basile in a meeting on Monday evening and indicated a decison would be made soon.

"There are several options and we hope we can have the name as soon as possible," Grondona said. "We must take the necessary time to see what the best option is. We must consider that this appointment will not be for a four-year spell, but for 1½ years.

"We will have no news today. People will know the name of the new coach of the national team as soon as possible, but not today.

"Maybe during the week we can make a decision. I want to know what the members of the committee think."

While Maradona, who turns 48 on Thursday, is an unlikely candidate to take charge of the side he captained to World Cup victory in 1986 and the final four years later, he remains the fans' favourite.

So much so that the streets of Buenos Aires have been filled with posters demanding Maradona's appointment.

He has the backing of Noray Nakis, the president of the AFA selection commission, as well as players such as Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

The troubled fomer striker, however, faces stiff competition for the coveted post, which has been left vacant since Oct 16 when Basile stepped down for personal reasons.

Former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi is the favourite with River Plate's Diego Simeone and Miguel Angel Russo also options.

Also in the frame is interim manager Under-20 coach Sergio Batista who guided Argentina to Olympic gold in August and will coach the senior side against Scotland in Hampden Park on Nov 19.

A popular option would be for a Batista-Maradona partnership. One of the posters plastered on the the front of the AFA headquarters read: "Maradona and Batista for the national team, to once again be champions."

Maradona made it known a week ago he would accept the chance to work alongside his friend Batista. He was an official sidekick for Batista during the Beijing Games, trying to boost team morale in the locker room with anecdotes of his glorious past and playing cards with Lionel Messi and his daughter's boyfriend, Atletico de Madrid's Sergio Aguero.

Grondona, however, has hinted he prefers Maradona in the stands rather than on the sidelines. But with the fans' calling for El Diego's appointment, his role as an assistant would certainly be popular and a welcome birthday present.